A/N: OH MY GOSHHH! HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE I LAST UPDATED?! I am soooooo sorry! I lost interest in this story, but now I've got so many ideas and...yeah. If you checked out my profile, you'll find more details. (again...soooooo sorry!)

News: I've made a deviantart account so you can check out drawings of mine there. I haven't uploaded any yet, (seeing as how I don't really know how it works yet...) but I've made a Fu Gao drawing as well as a few others. I'm gonna be first uploading traditionally drawn photos, then I'll redraw them digitally. Sound good? (more info on my profile...)

I want to thank all those who reviewed, and have just been really faithful. You've kept me inspired to keep going...thank you!


"Time can be a mysterious prospect to endure, since we deal with it everyday. But we can help, not control, our destinies if we allowed what's to happen, to happen. Just give faith to what is, and go along. You'd be surprised what you'll discover."

Jie Kun's Words

Xue watched Tigress leave with the other cub, Fu. He could still hear the little tiger still talking, and smirked at the thought of his student's own thoughts. Which was probably, lack of a better word, startled.

He turned back to the seamstress, watching as she nimbly cut strips of fabric in smooth snips. The only sound was the steady cuts and the occasional steps of the other customers. The tiger glanced at him, quirking up one eyebrow.

"So, what brings you to the Valley, Master-" she inquired.

"Xue."

"And I'm Dao-ming," she replied. "My husband's out back if you wish to speak to him."

"No, it's alright. I came for you," he said. "What design are you doing?

She looked up, "The same layout she has on now, is that fine?"

"Yes, and can you make something formal? Nothing too fancy, red silk? Will that work?"

"Yes." Dao-ming fell silent, then after a few moments, she continued. "I heard that Tigress came from an orphanage. Is that true?"

Xao blinked, then nodded. He cleared his throat, "Yeah, I mean, yes. I adopted Tigress just yesterday, actually. I found out about her a week ago, and I just decided to check out what all the fuss is about."

"Hmm..." she appeared deep in thought, her expression troubled. "Okay...but is that all you know about her?"

Master Xue felt beads of sweat begin to travel down his forehead, luckily he had thick fur and it covered all of it. He studied the feline again, there was something more about her that really stuck out... Maybe it was the way she carried herself, full of confidence and determination. More like a kung fu artist than a-

'Wait... what?' He watched as Dao-ming expertly twirled the knife in her hand, the way she caught a pool of thread so quickly. 'Could she be?'

"Mistress," Xue addressed her formerly, "You wouldn't happen to be a... Kung Fu Master... would you?"

"Wherever did you get that idea, Master Xue?" Dao-ming asked curiously. Her green eyes searching his own brown ones.

Xue shrugged wordlessly. He broke eye contact with the beautiful tigress, and was amazed to find the seamstress had already made two outfits. One that looked just like what Tigress wore and the other a black color with red ends.

"Impressive," he whistled.

"Thank you." The two fell into silence again.

"Dao-ming, what's this wolf doing in our shop?" a new voice spoke. It sounded dangerous. Xue looked back and saw another tiger, this time male.

"Feng," the tigress greeted, "this is a customer, Master Xue. Master Xue, this is my husband Feng."

Feng was large, with light blue eyes and paint covering his paws. He wore an apron that was white and covered in paint. He was well muscled despite his artist look, and a fierce look in his eye. When the two males met eyes, Xue looked quickly away. But it was too late.

"I know you."


The light finally faded, Xiâozi looked down at the cub. Her golden eyes were deep, a new light. He breathed out a deep sigh of relief, she was still fine. He glanced around. Everything was still the same. Xiâozi wrapped the child more tightly in her blankets, and hugged her close.

"No!" a voice yelled somewhere off in the distance.'They must've found the body,' Xiâozi realized.

Just as the wolf was about to get up, he heard a cold voice behind him.

"Put the cub down."

He turned around slowly. It was another tiger, this time a male. He had cold ice blue eyes blazing with hatred. His claws were long and unsheathed, with scorch marks on his clothes and fur. Xiâozi got the feeling this was the type of feline he shouldn't anger.

He began to do as he was told, but another new voice came.

"No, Feng," it was another male. "This is how it must be..."

"Are you crazy?! This is the wolf that took your wife's life, and he's taking your child. Are you honestly just going to let him go like that?!"

"I know what he did," the tiger's voice was choked. "But this is the way it must be. It's been foretold, and there'll be nothing we can do to stop it."

"Yes we can! I love you like my own brother, and I cannot let you do this."

Xiâozi glanced between the two tiger's nervously. He knew he couldn't take them both on. Not when the female tiger had already almost beat him. What more could two male warriors do? He looked at the sky. The sun was just about out of the clouds, the horizon was colored red. 'Blood-shed sky,' he thought sadly. 'Just as the elders used to say...'

"Feng, listen to me. This has to happen. You'll see, one day, all our paths will cross. Just trust me, okay?"

"Whatever," Feng growled. "Just get this devil off our land."

The new tiger complied. "I'm only giving you one chance wolf. If you mess up, you're answering to me." He took a threatening step forward, his own claws unsheathing.

Xiâozi flinched. He took one last glance at the cub in his arms, then ran. He never looked back.


"Yes," Xue answered finally. The other customers left, seeing that there was a dispute, and not wanting to get involved.

Dao-ming looked calmly on, her face didn't reveal anything.

Feng looked angrily at his wife. "Did you know of this?"

"That I had a customer, yes. That Master Xue here adopted Tigress, yes. That his true name is Xiâozi? Yes."

"Why didn't you get me?" Feng growled. He flexed his wrist, making his muscles bulge more.

"There was no need," Dao-ming answered getting back to her work. "Master Xue has not threatened me, or Fu, and he's buying clothes. Where's the harm?"

"That he's," he pointed a finger at Xue, "the one who killed my best friend? The one who took away our home?!"

"Feng, there was a reason why Tigress' father was so insistent about Xue taking Tigress. The time has come for our paths to meet again."

"Bullshit," he growled. "He was sick with grief. Making up stuff."

Xue winced at the word, he long ago stopped swearing because his master didn't like it. Every time he did, the punishment was harsh. Now, he couldn't stand the words.

"Feng," Dao-ming spoke sternly, "Don't swear. Fu's just upstairs and so is Tigress. They might hear you. Secondly, you know that he spoke truth. All the signs...it just wouldn't make sense if it was something else."

Xue blinked, confused. 'What now?'

"Master Xue-" she began.

"He's not a master, so stop calling him that!" Feng interrupted angrily.

"Um, yes, actually." Xue spoke. "I was just in training the... last time we met. But after that, I got a new master."

"Oh really?" he sneered back, "Who would that be? Some other villain I suppose?"

"I believe you know him. Tall? A greenish hue? Always has a staff with him?"

"Master Oogway would never train the likes of you, your too-"

"Feng!" Dao-ming growled. "If you can't behave yourself go back to your own work. I can't have this here, not while I'm still running the shop."

The tiger grumbled, but walked back to the place he came out of and slammed the door behind him. Xue let out the breath he held. With a nervous glance at the seamstress, he took a few steps back...just in case.

"I apologize for my husband, he's never been the same since the attack. He and Tigress' mother used to good friends, really close. But after she died..." Dao-ming shrugged, a faraway look on her face.

"I can understand that," Xue answered softly. "But why aren't you angry with me? I killed Tigress' mother, for heaven's sake."

"Out of defense," Dao-ming replied calmly.

Xue's eyes widened, then he groaned. 'She must've seen me kill her! I'm a stupid, crapping idiot!'

The seamstress shook her head, working on the next piece of clothing. "I don't blame you for anything, wolf. I just wish there was another way..." She sighed, "Tigress' mother and I were escaping together during the attack. I never really got along with her, actually. She was too vicious for my tastes, perfect for Feng though. Anyway she told me to go on ahead, but I didn't listen. Instead I followed her. I watched as she put Tigress next to a tree and began following you. I made sure Tigress was fine before I went on.

I saw as she attacked you, and how blood-driven she was...she was the best fighter of us all. But never learning compassion, at least never till she had Tigress. She'd take Tigress everywhere with her." Dao-ming grabbed red silk, never stopping.

"Why...Why are you telling me this? I'm not, in any way the person you should be speaking this too. In fact, I'm the last person you should be seeing."

"Because," her eyes met his, "You are one of the chosen ones. Your path is hard, and there is much to discover. You need to know this."

Dao-ming stood up, putting a paw on her belly. She smiled at Xue, "Tigress' clothes are done."

Xue nodded his thanks and bowed. His mind wandered. There was certainly something weird going on. It was like things that are, weren't supposed to be.

"I'm going to get Tigress," Dao-ming said.

But Xue didn't hear. "Things that are, weren't ever supposed to be..." He whispered.


A/N:Ugh...I'm not sure I like this new fanfiction formatting. It's weirder, and less familiar and I bet it looks funny on the page... :/

Meh, I'll update soon (I hope.)

Just keep reviewing! ;) Reviews help authors, they're really inspiring